Two distinctively French brands, Maison Kitsuné and Pernod, have joined forces in a très cool collab. Gildas Loaëc and Masaya Kukori, co-founders of the clothing and record label, have historically held an interest in the "Green Fairy," so when France's first commercially sold absinthe approached them to work together, it was met with a quick "yes." In a case of matchy-matchy gone cool, the designers devised a whimsical print which appears both on a special edition bottle as well as Maison Kitsuné wares. BAZAAR spoke with Loaëc on the charming partnership with a spirit that has a rich mythology. Maison Kitsuné x Pernod will be unveiled tomorrow evening in NYC in time for the beginning of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

Harper's Bazaar: How do the collection and bottle tie into each other?

Our design concept came from the idea that we could be innovative and dress a bottle in the same way we would create a collection to dress ourselves. We designed a graphic pattern that drew on aspects of both the Pernod Absinthe and Maison Kitsuné brands and the history embedded in each as well as modern concepts such as the American Diner. "The Green Hour" - a ritual from the Belle Époque, during which artists held intellectual discussions and drank Pernod Absinthe on Parisian terraces - was reflected in the print by the flowering herbs used to create the drink and the Maison Kitsuné fox sits amongst them. At the same time, I thought it would be fun to design a capsule collection inspired by the same print that would draw on the symbolism of each brand.

HB: Absinthe has such a rich history, what does it conjure for you personally?

Pernod Absinthe has always been shrouded in mystery, from its origins to its ingredients. Pernod Absinthe grows their own herbs and plants and the distillation process is done entirely in France. One hundred years after its initial ban, the spirit is still as relevant and interesting as ever. It's inspiring to partner with such an incredible spirit that has a storied past and great sense of tradition.

At Maison Kitsuné, we always look to collaborate with people with a "savoir-faire" and brands rooted in the same values.

HB: Why did this collaboration seem like a good fit for the brand?

For us, it was a fascinating way to interact with different aspects of design and bring together two different creative worlds. Maison Kitsuné is a brand which combines the philosophy of tradition with a modern attitude and partnering with a historical brand like Pernod was the perfect fit. It was also a lot of fun!

HB: What was the overall inspiration for the collection?

Both modern and historical imagery inspired the collection. We fused the whimsical elements of the Belle Époque and the art deco aspects of the classic American Diner to create an animated flowered camouflage print. Twelve vibrant colors add a rich and detailed aspect to the collection.